The pelvic floor is the muscular base of the abdomen, attached to the bony pelvis.

Stephanie said pelvic floor muscle training is the leading treatment for stress incontinence recommended by the Pelvic Obstetric and Gynecological Physiotherapist branch of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and health watchdog, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence.

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Despite this, when women are taught how to do pelvic floor exercise verbally, Stephanie said 50 per cent of women don’t do the exercises correctly.

Becky Aston, a specialist women’s Health physiotherapist said around 75 per cent of urinary incontinence can be cured completely with targeted exercise and subtle change of habits.

“These are not easy exercises to do and probably shouldn’t be done whilst driving a car,” said Becky.

“Time should be spent to locate the muscles, making sure you are doing the right exercise.

“The best way to do this is to see a women’s health physiotherapist, who will examine your pelvic floor muscles to make sure you are doing the right thing and give you an individual exercise programme to achieve continence.”

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Figures show one in four women will develop a problem with their bladder or bowel, as well as other pelvic floor condition such as pelvic organ prolapse.

"It is a misconception that these conditions only occur to women later on in life, they occur at all ages,” said Becky.

“All these conditions are treatable and help should be sought early.”

Experts said a strong pelvic floor should be able to create a lifting action in the whole body.

Elaine Miller, who is a self-confessed recovered incontinent, physiotherapist and comedian has urged women to put themselves first and seek help and restore their pelvic floors.

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Women should do the exercises at least three times a day

She said: “Strengthening those pelvic floors can lead to increased sexual sensation for women on the orgasm front and also much better sex – so, it’s a win-win all round.

“Improving pelvic floor muscles can also help to improve a mild to moderate prolapse and may even help prevent a prolapse developing.

“Incontinence quietly disempowers women,” added Elaine.

“It interferes with every single thing they do, and yet, few complain. It matters because wetting yourself in the front row of Zumba, means you are unlikely to go back to Zumba so you pile on the pounds and feel even worse. Imagine the freedom of being able to cough, sneeze, giggle without wetting oneself.”

Elaine said doctors always advise women to give our pelvic floor a work out, but added ‘working out’ where it is in the first place can be a bit of a task.

“Squeeze the muscles around your back passage as if preventing wind from escaping then draw this feeling forward around the walls of the vagina and ‘pull up” inside,” she said.

“When you are contracting your pelvic floor muscles it should feel like you are not only squeezing them but also lifting them up.

“Don’t be tempted to squeeze your buttock or thighs or hold your breath, do exert little tension around the back passage as if you are trying to prevent yourself from passing wind.

She added: “The important thing is to keep breathing and to relax your muscles in between the exercises.

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Women can find the issue embarrassing

“Do these three times a day, every day for three months and then at least once a day every day for the rest of your life.

“Your pelvic floor muscles now need to be used,” said Elaine.

“Tighten them before and during any activity that makes you leak such as coughing, sneezing or lifting.”

Women can also try Peri Coach, a new pelvic floor training device which measures the direct force of the muscles and helps people manage pelvic floor weakness.